Ink jet recording apparatus

Abstract

The ink jet recording apparatus comprises a recording head provided with a nozzle forming surface provided with nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing inorganic pigments, and a liquid repelling film which is provided on the nozzle forming surface; a maintenance unit for preserving the recording head; and a movement section which is arranged at a position which faces the nozzle forming surface and the maintenance unit and which relatively moves the nozzle forming surface and the maintenance unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:
 a recording head provided with a nozzle forming surface provided with nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing inorganic pigments, and a liquid repelling film which is provided on the nozzle forming surface, the liquid repelling film being monomolecular, having a thickness of 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less, and including a metal alkoxide; 
 a maintenance unit for preserving the recording head; and 
 a movement section which is arranged at a position which faces the nozzle forming surface and the maintenance unit and which relatively moves the nozzle forming surface and the maintenance unit, 
 wherein the maintenance unit has 
 a cleaning liquid applying unit which applies a cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface, 
 an absorbing member which absorbs attachments which are attached to the nozzle forming surface, 
 a wiping unit which presses the absorbing member and the recording head with a load of 8 gf/cm or more to 150 gf/cm or less, the wiping unit having a driving mechanism which wipes off attachments on the nozzle forming surface by relatively moving the absorbing member with respect to the nozzle forming surface, 
 a first capping section which covers the nozzle forming surface and which is provided with a suction mechanism which suctions the ink composition which is present on the nozzles, and 
 a second capping section which forms a closed space by coming into contact with the nozzle forming surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein cleaning liquid applying unit has a cleaning liquid supply port which supplies the cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface, and 
 the cleaning liquid forms a liquid film on the nozzle forming surface. 
 
     
     
       3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control unit which controls the maintenance unit, 
 wherein the control unit performs, in the following order, 
 a cleaning liquid applying operation to apply the cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface, 
 a wiping off operation to wipe off attachments on the nozzle forming surface with the absorbing member while pressing the absorbing member to the nozzle forming surface, and 
 a moisturizing operation to moisturize the nozzle forming surface with the second capping section. 
 
     
     
       4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cleaning liquid applying unit, the absorbing member, and the second capping section are arranged to be lined up in order along the relative moving direction according to the movement section. 
 
     
     
       5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cleaning liquid applying unit and the second capping section are arranged to be lined up along the relative moving direction according to the movement section. 
 
     
     
       6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the nozzle forming surface, the cleaning liquid applying unit, and the second capping section are provided to be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. 
 
     
     
       7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the cleaning liquid supply port is arranged at a position which is higher than the second capping section. 
 
     
     
       8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the absorbing member and the first capping section are arranged to be lined up along the relative moving direction according to the movement section. 
 
     
     
       9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a surface tension of the cleaning liquid is 20 mN/m or more and 45 mN/m or less. 
 
     
     
       10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid repelling film formed on a conductive film that is formed on the nozzle forming surface. 
     
     
       11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least a second recording head provided with a nozzle forming surface provided with nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing inorganic pigments; 
 wherein the first capping section includes at least a first and a second cap member configured to cover each of the recording heads. 
 
     
     
       12. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second capping section is configured to cover the recording heads as a batch. 
     
     
       13. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein second capping section includes a moisturizing liquid to preserve humidity within the closed space. 
     
     
       14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cleaning liquid applying unit, the wiping unit, the first capping section, and the second capping section are positioned along a line; and 
 wherein the cleaning liquid applying unit and the wiping unit are positioned between the first capping section and the second capping section. 
 
     
     
       15. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:
 a recording head provided with a nozzle forming surface provided with nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing inorganic pigments, and a liquid repelling film which is provided on the nozzle forming surface, the liquid repelling film being monomolecular, having a thickness of 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less, and including a metal alkoxide; 
 a maintenance unit for preserving the recording head; and 
 a movement section which is arranged at a position which faces the nozzle forming surface and the maintenance unit and which relatively moves the nozzle forming surface and the maintenance unit, 
 wherein the maintenance unit has 
 a cleaner configured to apply a cleaning liquid to the nozzle forming surface, 
 an absorber configured to absorb attachments which are attached to the nozzle forming surface, 
 a wiper configured to press the absorber and the recording head with a load of 8 gf/cm or more to 150 gf/cm or less, the wiper having a driver configured to wipe off attachments on the nozzle forming surface by relatively moving the absorber with respect to the nozzle forming surface, 
 a first cap configured to cover the nozzle forming surface and suction the ink composition which is present on the nozzles, and 
 a second cap configured to form a closed space by coming into contact with the nozzle forming surface. 
 
     
     
       16. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least a second recording head provided with a nozzle forming surface provided with nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing inorganic pigments; 
 wherein the first cap includes a plurality of caps that are each configured to cover one of the recording heads. 
 
     
     
       17. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the second cap is further configured to cover the recording heads as a batch. 
     
     
       18. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the second cap includes a moisturizing liquid to preserve humidity within the closed space. 
     
     
       19. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the cleaner, the wiper, the first cap, and the second cap are positioned along a line; and 
 wherein the cleaner and the wiper are positioned between the first cap and the second cap.